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Seizing the Blockchain Opportunity with MarketOrders

 

On 13th Nov 2018, our COO and co-founder, Sukhi Jutla spoke at the ‘Seizing the Blockchain Opportunity’ event held by London & Partners.

 

The sold-out event bought together professionals working in the blockchain space and those wanting to learn more about the real-life use cases of blockchain and where the opportunities are.

 

We are on the cusp of a blockchain revolution. The last year alone has seen major corporates gain interest in the distributed ledger technology, and an increasing number of companies are starting and scaling rapidly in the space.

 

The event saw three panel discussions, outlined below, and welcomed speakers from early-stage start-ups all the way to major corporations in the blockchain industry, to discuss the reality of the space, its major challenges and the greatest opportunities for applying this emerging technology.

 

 From L-R: Simone Maini, Abel Tedros, Anna Mostyn Williams, Sukhi Jutla

Here is a summary of the event with key takeaways

 

Panel 1: Opportunities and Dreaming Big: this panel discussed the major opportunities that are now possible thanks to blockchain technology, from creating a truly global marketplace to financial inclusion for the unbanked, digital identity solutions, supply chain transparency and more.

 

Key takeaways:

  • There are powerful use cases for blockchain that can be used for identification purposes to prevent fraud
  • As use cases on the blockchain increase, there could be issues with scaling
  • Users don’t need to understand the mechanics and technical aspects of the blockchain. Need to get them past that. Just how we use the internet and email without thinking about the technical work that happens underneath, we also need to start embracing blockchain and its benefits
  • We all use the internet and email but not all of us necessarily understand how it works!

 

Panel 2: What Keeps Me Awake At Night: this panel explored the main challenges that blockchain faces today, focusing on blocks such as limited transaction speeds, the energy usage of mining, the lack of regulation in the crypto space, amongst others

 

Key takeaways:

  • Can we truly get to a decentralised model or will we see the rise of centralised entities again in order to scale?
  • We need some level of regulation in order for investors to feel comfortable and confident in investing in ICOs
  • Educating the market and its end users in the possibilities of blockchain are important.
  • Giselle Frederick of Zingr explained how market vendors in Grenada, a small Caribbean island, were hesitant of the idea of using a blockchain enabled payment app until she explained they could use this technology to sell even more products to customers on the other side of the tiny island and be guaranteed payment!
  • Rodney Prescott of PWC talked about scaling, adopting blockchain with regards to the consensus mechanism and the rise of consortium structures.

 

Panel 3: How To Start A Career In Blockchain: attendees heard the personal stories of professionals who entered the space, who shared what led them to blockchain and how it is to work in the industry.

 

Key takeaways:

    • Have a growth mindset and actively learn about blockchain
      attend meetups, reach out to your blockchain role models and learn from them
    • If you can’t join a blockchain start up then create something yourself!
    • Follow key people on social channels and learn from them like Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Vitalik Buterin and Joseph Lubin,

 

  • Other useful resources shared:

 

http://www.weekinethereum.com/

http://unchainedpodcast.co/

https://www.coindesk.com/

https://twitter.com/aantonop

https://about.me/vitalik_buterin

 

Written by MarketOrders

 

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MarketOrders News

Why We Need More Women in Blockchain

 

photo credit: https://pixabay.com/en/woman-working-business-woman-laptop-690036/

 

We at MarketOrders are very excited about the opportunities blockchain creates for e-commerce and gold retailers. We believe the future is blockchain and now is the best time to start learning about it and understanding the new possibilities it opens up.

 

In this post, our co-founder and COO, Sukhi Jutla, who has deep expertise and experience of blockchain technology writes about the incredible achievements women are achieving in the blockchain space and why we need to continue supporting them. 

 

She also shares tips on how to get involved in the blockchain space for beginners and why she believes we should encourage and support more women in this exciting new field.

 

You can read her guest post on Blockchain Asset Review here: 
http://blockchainassetreview.com/why-we-need-more-women-in-blockchain/This article was originally published on Blockchain Asset Review

 

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are the latest innovation in technology. There is a clear excitement about the opportunities blockchain presents and it is nearing a pivotal moment in history. And while this brand-new field is still heavily dominated by men, women are quickly closing in and making big names for themselves.

In fact, the blockchain space is the ideal place for women who want to make a big impact and shape the future of what we call as the advent of ‘the internet of value.’

Since the premise of blockchain is about democratising and giving all participants an equal and transparent playing field, this lends itself as the perfect place for women to make a real and lasting impact on this infant industry.

Blockchain no doubt is here to stay, and even traditional industries reluctant to change such as banking and insurance, are waking up to the fact that they need to pay attention to the changes blockchain can bring about.

While almost every tech sector is heavily dominated by men, women now have an opportunity to enter this dynamic industry and actively contribute to and shape the future of this technology.

 

 

Shaping the Next Era of Change

 

It’s important that women are a part of this movement so they too can shape the next era of change.

The lack of women in blockchain has nothing to do with lack of skill but lack of awareness about the technology and lack of a clear path into the emerging industries related to blockchain. It is important to encourage women to become active in the cryptocurrency space and lead by example.

The blockchain is not just the preserve of the finance industry which is heavily dominated by men. Blockchain can disrupt every industry known to humankind, including those traditionally dominated by women such as education, healthcare, social and other non-government sectors, which is all the more reason for them to get involved.

 

With the potential use cases of blockchain-based products being particularly vast, so are opportunities for women. Many professionals in the industry hold various roles. Although a technical skill-sets are most in demand, women in blockchain can take up various other roles – such as academic, commercial, regulatory, and public relations.

 

The great news is that there is an increasing number of women entering the blockchain space. Already, women are making big waves in blockchain, and leading by example. We must shine a light on their achievements because it can only help to bring more women into this field and show support and encouragement to those already breaking boundaries. Here are some of the notable women in blockchain:

• Toni Lane Casserly, CEO of CoinTelegraph: Toni is co-founder of one the biggest online publications for cryptocurrency

• Galia Benartzi, co-founder and business development of Bancor. Galia is a co-founder for Bancor, a digital token platform, which is one of the most successful initial coin offerings so far.

• Fereshteh Forough, founder and CEO at Code to Inspire: Born as an Afghan refugee in Iran, Fereshteh went on to found Code to Inspire, an after-school program that teaches girls in Afghanistan how to code and aims to decrease the gender gap in computer science fields in Afghanistan.

 

 

photo credit: https://pixabay.com/en/adult-woman-people-technology-3373639/

 

How can we get more women involved in blockchain?

As a female tech-founder working in the blockchain space, I’m often asked how I came into the blockchain space and the answer is simple: I followed my curiosity.

I spent over a decade working in finance and banking where I worked closely with the technology teams. During conversations, I would sometimes hear the word blockchain bandied around which piqued my interest. Fuelled by my curiosity I started to look into this field but only actively jumped in a year ago when I decided I wanted to become a vocal part of this rising industry.

I realized that the absence of female mentors can create a barrier to entry but this should be seen as an opportunity for future female leaders. Many women are unfamiliar with blockchain technology and obtaining technical knowledge about the technology can serve as a challenge, especially when the information is varied and scattered across the internet.

And the only way you can participate and make a difference is to get involved. Here are my tips for getting more involved in blockchain, if you are a beginner.

 

1. Join local meet-ups for blockchain

Being based in London, I am part of multiple ‘Women in Blockchain’ groups where we meet on a monthly basis and share our learning on the latest topics and trends in the blockchain space. Sometimes we invite mentors and speakers to share their experiences to learn from.

2. Attend conferences

There are hundreds of conferences happening globally on blockchain. Spend the day immersing yourself in learning about blockchain, talking to the exhibitors and other attendees. See where your curiosity is piqued and where you would like to learn more.

3. Join a start-up in the blockchain space

If you’re looking for a new opportunity, join a start-up in the blockchain space. This is the best way to get hands-on learning about this technology. You don’t have to be a tech expert but you can still help to build and shape products when you understand the basics of how blockchain works.

4. Attend courses and seminars on blockchain

Similar to attending meet-ups attending workshops on this topic will help to give you deeper insights into how this industry works and to network with other members of the industry.

5. Reach out to mentors and role models

I believe we can all learn from each other so don’t hesitate to reach out to other women working in blockchain and ask for their help. It’s important that women support other women onto the blockchain ladder especially when just starting out. If you are already a working in this space, think about mentoring other women or speak at events to raise the profile of women working in blockchain.

We can collectively help to create an atmosphere and environment which encourages more women to consider careers and opportunities in blockchain in the following ways:

  • Diversity and inclusion: Reaching out and providing opportunities for those who lack it
  • Disruption through education: Bringing blockchain education to different communities
  • Networking opportunities: Bridging information gaps to people with all educational and professional backgrounds

This is an industry where anyone with a great idea can disrupt. The possibilities for women are endless and I’m looking forward to seeing the amazing things women do to supercharge this emerging industry.

 

About the author:

Sukhi Jutla is an IBM Blockchain Foundation Developer and in April 2018 made global headlines when she became the World’s First #1 Bestselling ‘Blockchain’ Author. 

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MarketOrders News

Why Retailers should be embracing blockchain

 

 
There have been many stories in the press lately about how the high street is dead. But is this really true? Will the high street die…or is it just time for them to embrace blockchain?

 
We at MarketOrders are always keen to bring fresh ideas and new approaches to our customers, the retailers. We help them to keep up to date with the latest technology and help them to embrace the digital world.

We know from our vast experience that the use of technology in brick-and-mortar shops is vital to help drive deeper customer engagement and emotional connections with local retailers and customers. This, in turn, will elevate the customer experience and create an incentive for shopping offline and driving purchase intent.

 
At MarketOrders, we believe the future of retail sits at the intersection of e-commerce and brick and mortar. We call this the converging platform and this is what MarketOrders is doing.

 
The reason why the giants of e-commerce such as  Alibaba, Amazon and eBay are flourishing today is that they embraced technology and its potential from the very beginning.

 
This is critical. Tech cannot be an afterthought or a side dish. Retailers must embrace technology and have a digital strategy present from the very starts.

 
The rise of cryptocurrency

 
As blockchain tech turns 10 years old, it’s becoming a household word among the millennial generation. While the cryptocurrency market is establishing itself in the world of speculative trading, it has not yet been widely accepted as a viable transaction method for goods and services.

 
Undoubtedly, one of the most common questions people ask is, “How can I use my cryptocurrency aside from trading on an exchange?” Marketorders will bring a practical solution for customers to utilize cryptocurrency to buy, sell and reward in exchange for products and services, within the ecosystem of the platform.

 
Cryptocurrency is inspiring entrepreneurs to create startups, millennial generations to have ownership and association with their own currency of choices that they are craving and desire to make better choices in pursuit of their life quest.

 
Marketorders converging platform and its MOT Token [cryptocurrency] can be the lifeline the offline retailers need to transform. MOT will create the ability to transact with an opportunity to experience a smart retail phenomenon in the future of a cashless society. And we are still only at the very beginning in terms of seeing what blockchain technology can accomplish.

 

 

MOTokens [cryptocurrency] envisions and working towards a future where ultimately MOT, the native currency, will be the cryptocurrency of choice for millennials to spend, earn and transact in the digital world.

 
Our fresh and new strategic platform and approach will pave the way for offline retailers to engage with millennial generations in an experiential economy.

 
This will give millennials a direct say to how their community spends and supports the local retail scene.

 
To align the transformation of brick and mortar of the future and millennial thinkers in entering a new market free of centralization and rich with intelligence and innovation. The cryptocurrency may be just what is needed to enter the smart retail space.

 

Written by CEO & Founder, Ram Krishnna Rao

 

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MarketOrders News

Creating the future of millennial retail with cryptocurrency

 

While the volatility is positive for speculative investors, it is also causing more hesitancy on the part of consumers to use it as a reliable fiat currency alternative. Unfortunately, the cryptocurrency craze has attracted too many ICO startups whose intentions are focused solely on watching their valuation being pushed to the pinnacle by the speculators. Often, there is no other utility outside of their cryptocurrency merely being a way to inflate their bank accounts.

 

MarketOrders solves the problem and challenges faced by offline retailers in dealing with millennial generations of consumers by creating a tech marketplace for them. Millenials are Smartphone driven and attention deficit and need to be able to access information on demand and on their mobiles.

 

 

photo credit: https://pixabay.com/en/office-meeting-business-partners-336368/

 

How is MarketOrders solving this challenges?

 

MarketOrders is bringing a Converging platform for offline retailers to future proof it by embracing new technologies using blockchain technology- NOT the least of which is the advent of cryptocurrency.

 

Blockchain invented a trust-less decentralized currency, owned and transacted by entire communities and movements. This could not be accomplished with traditional [fiat] currency in the circulation.

 

photo credit: https://pixabay.com/en/block-chain-shaking-hands-handshake-3468276/

 

 

For the first time in the modern history, communities can be served by currencies of choice without geographical boundaries, language, race, and religion restriction.

 

Despite a multifold of possibilities this new technology presents, it is critical that MarketOrders focuses initially on embracing this digital era and the millennial uprising that is causing disruption to offline retailers [brick and mortar].

 

This trend is being driven by a desire to tap into the rise of the experiential economy.

 

This experience became the blueprint for every brick and mortar shops. Digitization brings so much of convenience but customers are still looking for surprises and spontaneity in their shopping experience, which can only be achieved with a physical environment.

 

This actually creates positive tension between convenience and smart shopping with the experiential element to it and bring realization to an entire retail industry that in today’s digital and fast-moving technology world, only remain constant is the change.

 

Therefore, retailers are under pressure to move quickly to implement technology into their business. Retailers are constantly seeking technologies to both bolster customer experience and increase efficiency. To execute this vision of online and in-store experiences powered by technology, retailers need to leverage the critical skill sets of both business leaders and infrastructure and operations professionals, which can be very expensive for small retailers.

 

Written by CEO & Founder, Ram Krishnna Rao

 

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MarketOrders News

MarketOrders at the London Blockchain Summit 2018

 

Publica’s Author Advisor, Sukhi Jutla, returned to the Olympia Hall in London, where Publica, earlier this year, attended the London Book Fair, to speak on the panel named “How ICOs are Revolutionising Start-Up Funding” at the London Blockchain Summit on Wednesday, 27th June.

 

 
The conference was attended by over 4000 people with over 100 events over the 2 days. The room where Sukhi spoke was filled to the brim roughly 200 people attended the panel!

 

Sukhi talked on the panel about how ICOs are revolutionising the start up funding scene. Sukhi talked about how authors are now operating as start-ups and can use ICOs as a source of start up-funding support.

 

 

The audience were amazed when Sukhi reminded them that the eBooks they buy from amazon and other stores don’t belong to them – you purchase only the license to read them – you don’t own them. Sukhi emphasised that Publica allows you to own your book and even better — gift copies away and buy multiple copies. Many had no idea authors could do book ICOs and said it would change the publishing landscape.

 

We at MarketOrders are also excited about how blockchain can be used in the gold jewellery market.

Stay tuned for more updates regarding blockchain and MarketOrders!

 

 
Written by CEO & Founder, Ram Krishnna Rao